Shorebirds to Boreal Birds to Shorebirds

Lake of Two Rivers

Just a short post for now.  I was away for six days, spending three of those at Algonquin Park.  I headed up Monday with a short stop at Mitchell to check out West Perth Wetlands.  There were lots of shorebirds, but mostly Greater Yellowlegs and Golden Plover.  I almost dipped on the reported Marbled Godwit!  I walked 90% of the way around the wetland, also checking the back pond, and did not see it.  I glanced back, and there it was, between some clumps of weeds.  I have no idea where it was hiding.  Too far away to attempt a photo.

Birding was fairly good in Algonquin but the weather, as usual, was a bit suspect.  I have no luck with weather anymore!  There were lots of warblers still around, some getting close to their late dates.  I had one Northern Parula on Mizzy Lake Trail which apparently tied the late date according to Ron Tozer's bird chart.

I did get some of the specialties including a couple of Gray Jays, 2 Black-backed Woodpeckers and at least 11 Boreal Chickadees in various spots.  There seemed to be no problem in finding Boreal Chickadees, but try and photograph them.  Virtually impossible at times!

I camped at Mew Lake as I usually do. It is adjacent to the old airfield which is one of my favourite spots.  There are lots of possibilities at the old airfield from things flying over, waterbirds on Lake of Two Rivers, birds around the edges, and grassland species.  I tried for Le Conte's Sparrows, but perhaps it was a tad early to be successful. A Song Sparrow with a stubby tail had me going for a couple of seconds!

As well, it is a good spot for butterflies.  I did find several American Coppers and Clouded Sulphurs, but that was all.  They were attracted mainly to goldenrods plants, so one had to look for the goldenrod.  I was half expecting Common Buckeye with all that were around this year.  Perhaps there were some more butterflies on Friday in that brutal SW wind and record high temps.

Coming back I attended the OFO Convention at Port Dover/ Long Point area.  Lots of Buckeye butterflies were along Lake Erie. Today we birded Port Burwell and Port Stanley area.  A good number of hawks were migrating along the lake.  Last stop was Port Stanley Lagoons were there were a couple of Snow Geese and some shorebirds among other things.  Best shorebird there was a Red-necked Phalarope.  I had not yet seen one this fall!